Duncan Village phenomenon Amila Gongqa has set tongues wagging at the IBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Montenegro by becoming the first SA boxer to advance to the last 16.
The 16-year-old, who goes by the “Auditor General” moniker due to his initials, is the only boxer in the five-member SA team still in contention, with the others having been eliminated.
Gongqa got off to a good start by beating Brazilian prospect Moura Neto Santana on points in their lightweight bout to book a last-32 clash against Simanschii Nichita of Moldova.
His power, which he used to score crushing stoppages in the open (formerly amateur) boxing championships — a rare feat in the unpaid ranks — was in evidence as he forced Santana to take a count in the second round before the Brazilian stormed back in the final outing.
But Santana’s late rally was not enough to prevent Gongqa running out a convincing winner.
Gongqa, who fights from a southpaw stance, was in total control against Nichita as he drove him on to the back foot throughout the contest before forcing three counts in the third round to win the bout by stoppage.
The SA National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo), which governs open boxing in SA, congratulated Gongqa for flying the national flag in Montenegro.
“Sanabo continues to develop boxers with the help of IBA programmes which give opportunities to them to gather experience,” it said.
“Out of five boxers we sent to the IBA Youth Word Champs, AG advanced to the round of 16 with big wins.
Gongqa was set to face Damir Muibalikhonov of Tajikistan on Monday evening to contest for a last eight spot.
His trainer, Mzamo Njekanye, who has a penchant for producing good boxers in the shack-littered township, lauded his charge, describing his performances in Montenegro as exceptional.
“To me, he is already a winner by advancing this far in the elite level of the Youth Championships,” he said.
“I have been speaking to him after each bout and he sounds confident of going all the way and setting a new SA record of bringing [home] a medal from the world championships.”
The SA team are under the tutelage of Limpopo coach David Maswanganyi and Nelisiwe Ntuli from KwaZulu-Natal.
Should Gongqa win a medal, he will surpass the achievements of any SA boxer at the elite level, including his former stablemate, Azinga Fuzile, who is considered the best talent unearthed by Njekanye.
• Sanabo celebrated another achievement at the weekend after John Masamba won a gold medal at the African Elite Boxing Championships in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Masamba was in the SA team of five boxers comprising three women and two men.
Gqeberha’s Lubabalo Lusizi, who was part of the team, could not participate after coming in overweight.
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